Dr Ghassan Abu Sittah, who was born a refugee, has volunteered in war zones across Palestine since the late 1980s. In October 2023, he entered Gaza to work at Al-Shifa and Al-Ahli hospitals during Israel’s bombing campaign.

Over 43 harrowing days, he performed dozens of amputations, many of them on children, while hospitals were systematically destroyed and medical workers targeted. As food and supplies dwindled, and his own health deteriorated, Dr Abu Sittah was forced to return to the UK. Back home in the UK, he emerges as a powerful witness to the atrocities, bringing his first-hand experiences to the world stage, including the International Court of Justice.

A State of Passion tells his story and, in the face of global inaction, articulately conveys the personal and collective trauma endured by the Palestinian population.

Content Guidance: Film contains scenes of war, bereavement and death.

DocNights, in collaboration with Sheffield DocFest, is a monthly screening of documentary films taking place on the last Monday of every month.

This screening will be introduced by a member of the Sheffield DocFest team.

Director Carol Mansour, Muna Khalidi
Year 2024
Duration 1h 30m
Language English, Arabic with English subtitles